I stood outside Johns door while Sparky continued to be my hero and went and told John what had happened. Sadly he had refused to come home with me and John was actually mellow about the whole thing. Maybe if I had started off with, 'hey brother, I punched Beau from that band', he would have been more accepting of my relationship with Beau?
I know he only acted like it didn't matter because I was still crying over it and he hated Rosa too. He had come to my rescue a million times during her high school reign, generally making sure pranks and things never actually happened thanks to his contacts amongst the seniors who had idolized him when they were juniors.
I should have punched her back then too.
Getting home Jess had cooked and I knew I was in trouble. Sure give her some dried pasta and she could dye it and turn into something that would rival Picasso, but give her some pasta to then make into something edible? Not so easy.
"Hey, how was your day?" I tried not to laugh when I saw the bright blue tiny handprint on her ass, but when she looked at me my laughter died. "Jess, what’s wrong?"
"I don’t think I can be a teacher!" Turning to face me, it wasn't just her rear that got painted and the beige pants were splattered with a rainbow of colors and tiny handprints. "They're monsters!"
This wasn't making me suffer cooking; this was her doing some therapy.
"Oh hunny, I'm sure every teacher has that moment, it's only been a couple of weeks!" I gave her a hug and she burst into tears. That’s when I saw the weird white clumps in her hair and realized it was glue.
"We were painting, it was fun then this shitty little monster threw paint at this little girl. So I told him off and sent him to the corner like the teacher told me to do and then, they all just lost it. They probably don’t even want me going back to there tomorrow! I'm fired before I begin!" I sat her down and grabbed a glass of wine.
"Oh and you! I heard about what you did today!" I froze, realizing I wasn't off the hook that easily. "I'm so proud of you!"
Now she was hugging me and a splash her wine landed on my shoulder as she threw her arms around me.
"Proud? I thought you liked her?"
"Please, I tolerated her. We all did and yes she has her good moments, but even their fake! I'm surprised you didn't kill her when she said she slept with Beau. I would have. When she told me I laughed and then told her not to speak to us again and hung up!"
"Sparky was a champ, he saved my day!" I grabbed what was left of her wine and skulled it, looking towards the stove the pot of brown goop started to pour over the edge and I ran to turn it off. "What is this?"
"Dunno, I just threw a bunch of sauces together. I was going to add mince, but we didn't have any so I used up some of that tofu when I was trying to be vegetarian." She shrugged and shaking my head I poured into the bin.
"We're not eating that. I wish John was here, he'd cook and make sure we had groceries!"
"I know, never thought I'd miss having him around."
"Thai?" I suggested.
"You read my mind!" And with her covered in paint and me covered in wine, we went out for dinner.
-
Friday was a big improvement for both of us. Jess didn't get fired from her work placement and I didn't punch anyone else. I was about to head home when John called me back into his office and I prayed he wasn't about to throw me more work to do because all I wanted was to go home and eat junk food in front of the TV all night.
"So, I have a meeting next week and I just got off the phone to De Lucca. He recommended I bring you along."
My heart stopped beating for a second and I fumbled on my words. "Where is this meeting?"
"LA"
Of course it had to be LA.
"I thought you'd be excited?" He stared at me confused.
"Ah yeah, I am. LA. Awesommme..."
I was going to meet Beaus Mother.
"Well we leave Tuesday so have Monday off. Maybe take Nana to that spa she likes and freshen yourself up a bit. LA is brutal. Maybe even ask Mum, she is on my case about you not visiting."
"I know, maybe. Ok. Spa day" I was to nervous to move. What if she hated me?
"Bec, do you need to start on some medication or something?" John teased, getting up he closed his laptop and walked over to the door, turning off the lights. "Come on, let’s grab a drink. It's Friday!"
-
Beau didn't mention LA that night, or any time on the weekend. The spa wasn't as relaxing with my Mum there questioning me on everything from work, to my love life and Jess. So I told her about punching Rosa and that shut her up, but then started Nana off on her own round of questions. She also took me shopping making sure I bought things I normally wouldn't, including lingerie worth more than my most expensive pair of shoes.
In the end I told her some of the stuff going on, needing more advice that I was doing the right thing.
“John has always been an old head on young shoulders, he is more grown up than I am now and I have a good thirty odd years on him!” She made me smile, and putting her arm over my shoulders we carried on through the mall.
“Listen to your heart, I’ve lived that way and look at me! Just make sure, he isn’t replacing one addiction with another.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Never mind love, if anything you’ll have one hell of a story to tell your grandkids, who ever their grandfather may end up being!”
“How did you know Granddad was the one?” We stopped to look at more shoes and she smiled to herself before answering.
“Everyone has their own story Becky and not all of them need to be told.” We left the store and kept on walking. “If you love him, it doesn’t matter how long it lasts for. Just that it did.”
-
"Dam, you are so going to be off those V plates if a certain someone catches you in this!" Jess held up the black lacey contraption to torture me more than buying it already did.
"He isn't seeing anything. I've got to survive meeting his Mum first!" I collapsed on the bed and she threw the other tiny bits of material onto my face, laughing like it was the funniest thing she'd ever done. She ended up falling beside me and moved the red thing from over my eyes to look at me.
"Then maybe not wear this” She held up the tiny white thong and I cringed even more. “Do you love him?"
"I barely see him, so how can I love him? Besides we haven’t even been together that long." I groaned rolling over.
"Because I've heard you on the phone and seen how you act when he messages you. Your fifty-first dates that he rolled into one was just amazing! Clearly he cares not forgetting he is happy waiting for you to be ready and you looked after him when he needed you the most and I could keep going, but I wont! And there is no time frame for when you can love someone. Remember Dylan? I was in love with him after the first date!" Sighing she got up to help me finish packing.
"Jess, what if I do? Do I tell him?"
"Don't plan it, otherwise it feel fake and force. Just let it come naturally, trust me on this" Getting up I saw the purple box go into the corner of my case and I reached over to get it out.
"What is... JESS!" I threw it at her as if it was on fire, the box of condoms not what I wanted any nosey airport guard seeing if they searched my luggage. She was on floor struggling to breath in seconds, landing on the box the silver packets surrounded her like snow flakes. "You look like a condom angel"
"What?" Now I was laughing and held up a mirror so she could see them all fanned around her head. "That. Is. Hilarious!"
After we finally calmed down and finished packing we went downstairs to watch TV, agreeing on the MTV documentary about Taking Back Monday from a couple of years ago. Beau didn't care if I watched this stuff, I told him I felt weird about it, but it is what it is.
The majority of scandals he had already warned me about and backstage at their first Rock the Planet, it was the dark haired girl who kept out of sight that had me most interested. Was that Julia?
"Who do you think Julia is?" I wondered out loud, the camera scanning the room I wish John had been able to tell me what she looked like apart from dark hair and brown eyes of about my height – wasn’t the description I was after.
“No idea. She probably stayed away from all this stuff. How do you think she stayed undetected for so long?”
It didn’t long for me to start identifying the people always around and half way through it was Seth that gave me the biggest clue who she was and I got up, waiting for her to be on the screen again.
“There! That one! Look at how Seth keeps glaring at her and Beau is always looking in her direction too.”
It was the girl from the start of the show. Her hair was a dark brown and always kept long and straight, her face never directly seen by the camera. They never mentioned her either, and like Jess said, how else would they keep her unknown?
“Bec, he’s with you now. None of what we just watched matters” Jess turned the show off and I knew she was right. “Go to bed, have a safe flight and tell me all about what happens the second after it does!”
“Good night, I don’t know how I ended up with a best friend like you” We hugged and went our separate ways and not for the first time I wished she was coming with me.
“I know John said you’d be back by Friday, but make sure you are! Don’t forget the book thing on Saturday afternoon!”
“I will be.” I promised, not willing to miss out.
-
The problem with an addiction, unless you really want to beat it, you’ll always go back for more. Brock was my drug, the high he could send me on was unlike anything you could smoke, snort or inject.
I didn’t resist as he welcomed me back into his arms, and I was ready for another hit. The smell of his skin, the feel of lips and the desperate grip he had on me was the first injection, the sensation of those hands moving all over my body was the medicine entering my system and it didn’t take me long to peak, panting his name until I finally felt him enter me.
-
“What are you reading?” John appeared on my balcony and I quickly put the book down. The meeting was delayed to this afternoon so making the most of the sun and sea breeze; I decided to relax for a little before pleasure turned to business.
“Lyrics”
“Still? I’m sure there is something in Nan’s store you can read instead?”
“I don’t judge you for watching The Simpsons even if you’ve seen the episode at least a hundred times so shut up!” I snapped, but the more I thought about the more I lost my addiction. I guess being naïve to how people and relationships work, it hadn’t bothered me. Now it left me feeling anxious and disappointed, but still on Brock’s side.
“Well how about you get ready, we’ll get some lunch and get it some sight seeing before heading to the office?” Johns offer was tempting and I left my balcony to get ready.
Seeing the Hollywood sign for the first time was exciting and as John dragged me around to the most obvious places, I regretted wearing heels. By the time we got to De Lucca’s base office, my legs were burning and I could no longer feel my toes.
“Do I have to worry about you beating up any reality stars while we’re here?” John teased and I punched him in the arm instead, making him wince, as my hit seemed to be getting harder these days.
“Maybe. If I was you, I’d only worry if I was about to be pimped out as someone’s fake girlfriend again?”
“It all worked out for the best.” He grinned as we got our security passes. I couldn’t tell him how it almost didn’t work out at all so just kept glaring until we were making our way to the boardroom.
“Good afternoon Adams’s!” De Lucca greeted, looking as he always did, powerful. His eyes lingered on me for just a second to long and John shook his hand before I did the same. “I thought it would be a good opportunity for Rebecca to get familiar with our offices here, do you mind if doesn’t accompany you today?”
“Not at all Sir, I’m sure she’ll love that.” I looked at them both unimpressed. I was standing right between them and yet they spoke about me as if I wasn’t there.
“Rebecca, if you up to the fourteenth floor I have one of my staff waiting to give you the grand tour. I hope you’re enjoying working for us?”
“Yes Mr. De Lucca, it’s been a great experience.”
“I’m glad, you’ve become another valuable member of the family and under your brothers management I’m sure you will succeed as he has. John, before we start there is something I wanted to show you” The pair started walking down the corridor and rather just stand there, my fate was sealed. Thankful it was an elevator and not stairs, I did as he said and went up the six floors for my tour.
“Hey Angel.” Beau stood in the elevator doorway grinning and I cautiously stepped out, looking around but no one was around. The majority of the lights were off and the reception desk was empty. How did he set this up?
He stepped forward, closing the distance between us so that we were practically touching yet not quite there yet. His hand came up to caress my cheek and I gave in, melting against him as my body had a mind of its own.
“I knew you were behind us coming here!” He smirked at my declaration, not denying it and the light stubble that had grown on his jawline was just as prickly as his head had been when we first met. It gave him that un-kept edge, and if his hair had been longer I’d expect it to be messy in that just got out of bed way.
His hand pushed my head towards his, and there was no holding back as we kissed. Before my mind could process everything my back was against the wall beside the elevator and I’d never wanted him so much as in that moment.
“I have missed you Angel, do you like LA?” My heart was still pounding from our reunion and I just nodded as my lips tingled from his touch.
“Are we interrupting?” From out of no where the trip appeared, looking every bit amused at seeing us together.
“Nothing like that!” Beau defended, leaning away from me I quickly shifted my clothes into the right position and tried to stop the blushing that was taking over my face.
“You ready or what lover boy?” Seth walked past and slapped Beau on the back and Sticks tapped his drumsticks in the air as he played an invisible drum.
“Good to see you again Rebecca,” Noah greeted as he passed and for once I didn’t feel like I was being kept on the outside.
“Want to watch us do some recording?” Beau asked, taking my hand we passed the currently vacant offices to a room at the end of the corridor and going in behind the guys, two men and a woman sat behind the desk full of switches and buttons. Looking around I realized it was a recording studio.
“Hey Dodge, Ricki, Ellie” Beau greeted each of them as he entered, “This is my girlfriend, Bec.”
It was the first time he had introduced me as his girlfriend and the band all watched curiously as they found their places and equipment on the other side of the glass.
“Hi” I mumbled, suddenly feeling very small. Dodge and Ricki looked more like WWE wrestlers and Ellie was like a model, taller than Beau and he was six foot one.
“Girlfriend? About time B! I’m Dodge, and that’s my wife Ellie” Dodge reintroduced himself as Beau squeezed my hand before going into the booth too.
“It’s so nice to meet another girl here!” Ellie hugged me and I couldn’t help but like her Spanish accent. If she acted, she could easily play Wonder Woman and I couldn’t help but wonder if Dodge was related to Jay-Z as his face was almost like a mirror to the celebrity.
Ricki on the other hand for all his bulk, was rather quiet in the corner and then I realized he had put on his earphones and was distracted by the colorful buttons in front of him.
“Come sit with me,” Ellie pulled me over the black leather lounge. It was so dark in this section I hadn’t even noticed it. I soon learnt from Ricki the guys were doing a song for a cover album that was raising money for a children’s cancer foundation and the guys were doing their own version of Diamonds by Rihanna.
It was amazing seeing them all perform, cut after cut and arguing over which parts need what and three hours later, the final version was done.
“And that’s a wrap guys!” Dodge pulled out the USB stick and the trio said goodbye.
“What did you think?” Sticks spoke first after the others left and I was surprised at how relaxed they all were now.
“It was great, the drums owned that song!” it wasn’t a lie; he dominated it.
“Yeah, ok, I like her Beau” The trio laughed as Sticks sat beside me, what ever it was that had kept them wary was gone.
“Only cause she is kissing ass” Seth teased, pressing some of the buttons so the song played again. He then spent the next four minutes explaining to me everything he did with Noah and it was like they were all trying to impress me.
Beau kissed my head as he passed; muttering something about getting a drink, he slipped out of the room and I wasn’t sure if I should follow.
Even if I wanted to the trio had blocked me in.
“Bec, we wanted to say sorry for how we acted the last couple of times we met” Sticks spoke first, looking apologetic.
“Yeah, its just Beau isn’t the only one suffering. Things happened that impacted all of us and for him to then start loosing his mind over some girl he met at a party just got our backs up all over again” Seth reached over and gave me a hug, “We’re sorry.”
“I believe you and thanks for saying so. I really thought you all hated me,” I admitted and this time Noah gave me a hug.
“Never, even if these two think different I’ve got insider info on just how lovely you are.” He winked and I knew he was talking about Sparky.
“Ok guys, here we go.” A tray with a few beers and bottles of water on was in Beaus hands and I saw them all tense as he grabbed a beer. Moderation, wiping himself out wasn’t possible on what was here and we were all with him to stop him from going further. Treating him like a child wasn’t going to help so as he took a sip, I took it from him and had one of my own, making him share.
It didn’t take long for them all to relax again and not long after that, my phone started ringing.
“Where are you?” John demanded, clearly his meeting was over.
“Ah, back at the start of my tour. Did you need me?”
“Are you ok? You’ve been gone for four hours”
“I’m great, I ah, bumped into Beau.” I held my breath as the band all stared at me curiously.
“De Lucca said you might of. We’ve been invited to dinner at his house, are you ready to leave?”
“Give me five and I’ll meet you in the lobby”
Hanging up all eyes were still on me.
“Johns finished with De Lucca, I’m being summoned.” The guys all said goodbye and Beau walked me to the elevator.
“Dinner tonight?” He asked, his hand still holding mine tightly as I pressed the door button.
“Cant, John said De Lucca invited us out.”
“Maybe after than then?” I nodded and reached up for another kiss, only to have the band whistling and cheering for their singer. The elevator arrived and I got in, waving goodbye the doors had nearly closed when Beau pressed the button again, sending them flying open. “I like you Angel.”
“I like you too Beau”
And once again, I was positive we weren’t talking about like anymore.
-
“I know this isn’t De Lucca’s house, I wonder why we’re here?” John asked confused and checked the address once more.
“No idea, does he have a girlfriend or something?” We got out and headed up to the door and I smoothed out the wrinkles in my maxi-dress as we walked over. Dinging the doorbell we could hear the click of footsteps coming over and as the door opened we both stared in surprise.
“Beau?” John and I asked at the same time, confused as to why he was here. I knew he must have some kind of arrangement with De Lucca, but turning up too dinner was kind of unbelievable.
“Hello John, Bec.” He shook Johns hand before taking mine and leading us inside through the entry. It opened up into a vast living area and being beachside, there was a large balcony area where a dining table had been set up, covered in candles. Looking around I saw the bands albums in frames on one section of the wall and on the mantle a couple of MTV awards stood out from the other trophies.
John looked around as confused as I was and Beau stopped as a woman appeared. She didn’t look to old, her hair was an aubern brown and her eyes were of the same intensity as Beaus, seeming to light up even more at seeing us.
“Bec, I’d like you to meet my Mum” Beau introduced, “Mum, this is my girlfriend Rebecca and her brother John.”
“Oh it’s so nice to meet you darling! I’ve heard so much about you!” She was in front of us hugging me before I could get my brain functioning.
“Its lovely to meet you Mrs Morgan” I stuttered and John was given the same hug I was.
It was then De Lucca joined us, a martini in hand I wouldn’t expect him to have much else. “Thank you for coming, I know Beau was eager for Rebecca to meet Leah. Would you like a drink?”
John nodded eagerly and started following his boss to the bar and Leah left us, disappearing back into the kitchen.
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded. “Is he your step dad or something?”
“No, he’s my Uncle.” Beau started walking towards the bar and I followed, not sure what to think about that revelation. All around pictures of Beau, the band and I’m guessing his family lined the walls. Despite the grandness of it all, it was still homely and once we all had a drink we moved to sit outside, enjoying the balmy night.
“So you’re Beau’s uncle Mr. De Lucca?” I asked, trying to help John fill in the gaps I could see him puzzling over.
“I am, but it’s not common knowledge. I try to keep business and my personal life separate”
“Understandable” I agreed and as the first course was set out, we were all talking like old friends, discussing the cover I had heard the band record today. Well, not including John who still had no idea how or why he was there.
----
>> Song on the side to give you an idea on how their recording sounded (but with Beau's vocals of course) ;)